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Protesting workers cut off electricity

June 17, 2004|By Items compiled from Tribune news services.

PARIS, FRANCE — French power workers cut electricity to the Eiffel Tower and President Jacques Chirac's residence in western Paris on Wednesday to protest the government's plans to partially privatize state utilities in an effort to raise money.

Electricity was shut down at the presidential Elysee Palace, several government ministries and the Champs-Elysees avenue for about 15 minutes Wednesday afternoon. Some stores evacuated shoppers.

At the Eiffel Tower, tourists did not notice the outage because a backup electric plan kicked in, officials at the monument said.